Data processor with rotatable display

Abstract

A data processor with rotatable display includes a display unit having a rectangular display surface rotatable to either a vertically elongated position or a laterally elongated position, and a control unit for setting an onscreen display format presented by the display unit to either a vertically elongated format or a laterally elongated format. The control unit stores the onscreen display format displayed at the time the data processor is turned off. Then when the data processor is later turned on, the stored onscreen display format is used.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A data processor with a rotatable display comprising: a display including a rectangular display surface and rotatable to both a vertically elongated position and a laterally elongated position,   control means for setting onscreen display data displayed by the display to either a vertically elongated format or a laterally elongated format,   wherein the control means stores a current onscreen display format when the data processor is deactivated, and displays data in the stored current onscreen display format on the display when the data processor is later activated, and   a base for supporting the display with the top surface of the base having a curved portion located to accommodate rotation of the display, wherein a corner of the display which passes adjacent to the curved base portion when the display is rotated is beveled.   
     
     
       2. A data processor of claim 1, in which the display includes: detecting means for detecting a vertically or laterally elongated position of the display means, and wherein the control means controls the display means to display one of the vertically elongated onscreen and the laterally elongated onscreen formats in accordance with a detected result by the detecting means.   
     
     
       3. A data processor comprising: a rotatable display having a rectangular display surface rotatable to both a vertically elongated position and a laterally elongated position,   control means for commanding onscreen display data displayed by the display to one of a vertically elongated and a laterally elongated format,   the display including detecting means for detecting a vertically or laterally elongated position of the display means,   the control means controlling the display means to display one of a vertically elongated onscreen format and a laterally elongated onscreen format only when the commanded display format orientation coincides with the detected display orientation, and   a base for supporting the display with the top surface of the base having a curved portion located to accommodate rotation of the display, wherein a corner of the display which passes adjacent to the curved base portion when the display is rotated is beveled.   
     
     
       4. A data processor comprising: a rotatable display having a rectangular display surface rotatable to both a vertically elongated position and a laterally elongated position,   a switch for generating a change command to change a display region which can display data on the display surface into one of a vertically elongated onscreen layout and a laterally elongated onscreen layout,   control means for changing the display region into one of the vertically and the laterally elongated onscreen layout in accordance with the change command,   the display including detecting means for detecting a vertically or laterally elongated position of the display,   the control means including means for comparing a detected display direction generated by the detecting means with the change command and for changing a direction of the display region to the layout indicated by the change command only when a direction of the display means is the same as the direction of the display region designated by the change command, and   a base for supporting the display with the top surface of the base having a curved portion located to accommodate rotation of the display, wherein a corner of the display which passes adjacent to the curved base portion when the display is rotated is beveled.   
     
     
       5. A data processor of claim 1, further comprising: a switch for outputting a change command to change a display region which can display data on the display surface in a vertically elongated onscreen format or a laterally elongated onscreen format,   the display means including detecting means for detecting a vertically or laterally elongated position of the display means,   the control means changing the display region into the vertically or the laterally elongated onscreen format in accordance with the change command, and including identification means for comparing a detected result with the change command and for changing a direction of the display region to the format indicated by the change command only when a detected direction of the display means is the same as the direction of the display region designated in accordance with the change command.